FAQ's                                               Janet Barton 01254 777394

- Won't chasing for money upset my customers?  No, if its done right, credit control enhances the customer relationship.

- So you just chase for money then?  'Chasing' tends to imply that the money is already overdue.  Credit control is about controlling the amount of credit your customers take.  If its done right then customers are far less likely to go overdue in the first place.

- I'm ok my business uses factoring.  Factoring can cost up to 20% of your business turnover.  You can be tied in to long contracts and be stuck even if you decide factoring is not for you.

- So you're a debt collector?  No, using a debt collection agency is like shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted.  Credit Control means that your customers are far less likely to go overdue in the first place, and so you are far less likely to need a debt collector in the future.

- I'm ok we use standard letters when customers are overdue.  If standard letters work so well then why do people send them out at 3 days and then again at 60 and 90 days?  Standard letters don't find out any reasons WHY your late paying customers haven't paid.  Or whether you're even sending invoices to the correct address.  Standard letters annoy customers and mostly end up in the bin.  Customers don't have to respond to a standard letter but they do have to respond to someone on the other end of the phone.  You end up sending 3 standard letters and then a legal letter - only for your customer to say they hadn't paid because they have a query on the invoice.  A credit controller would have found that out before the invoice was even due....

- I might just need a few hours a month, you won't come for that little amount of work?  Yes I will!  Depending where you are, I can try to arrange my workload to fit more than one businesses into one working day if they don't need a full day each.  This is far more cost effective for you, the business owner.

- Why doesn't everyone have a credit controller then? Large businesses have whole departments of credit controllers.  If a smaller business only needs a few hours a month then its very hard to recruit an experienced person to do it.  Thats why I do freelance credit control!

- Why hasn't my bank manager/business adviser told me about credit control then?  Most bank managers, accountants, and business advisers, just don't feel the pain of not knowing when you'll be paid.  They are not running a business!  They only know the theory 'keep an eye on cash flow' but have no idea how to help you collect money on a day to day basis.  Some business advisers and accountants may take a commission from a bank or factoring company for loans and factoring.  And of course your bank manager has no interest in telling you about something that will reduce your overdraft and your bank charges!

- Can you show my existing staff how to do it?  Yes.  I can come for a one off to clear up a backlog and then hand over thecredit control maintenance to your own staffl 

- What area do you cover?  I work in Lancashire and North Manchester

- I am outside your area, can't I just send you my debtors list and you work remotely?  Whilst the work is generally more effective if done from a clients premises, I am happy to consider all enquiries.

Why spend another night worrying about overdue invoices?

Ring or Email Today and make late Paying Customers a thing of the past!

Janet Barton 01254 777394   or email info @ janetbarton.co.uk